VIC 3.1 People benefit from better services

This indicator tracks the number of individuals, including migrants and forcibly displaced persons, who benefit from social, economic, or protection services. Only services resulting from good governance processes—defined as inclusive, transparent, accountable, and participatory—are counted. Activities must focus on advocating for and supporting local governments, civil society, and private actors to provide services through these governance processes, rather than directly providing the services. For example, if a water service is built without inclusive community involvement, it is not counted. However, if community dialogue and transparency have been part of the entire process, the stakeholders who directly benefit from these services are counted under this indicator. Hence, all projects (in all working areas) focusing on service delivery through inclusive, transparent, accountable, and participatory governance processes, should use this indicator. 

People: It is important to note that, in VIC projects, "people" refers to all individuals within the target area, with particular emphasis on women, underserved, vulnerable, and marginalized groups, as well as those in the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) categories.  This includes migrants, refugees, IDPs, etc. ensuring that those who are often excluded or face barriers to participation are prioritized in governance initiatives.

Social Services: Activities and programs that improve the well-being of individuals and communities, such as education, healthcare, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and gender equality initiatives.

Economic Services: Activities and programs that enhance economic opportunities and livelihoods, such as vocational training, financial inclusion, agricultural support, and economic empowerment initiatives.

Protection Services: Activities and programs that ensure the safety and rights of individuals, such as legal aid, protection of women, ethnic groups, protection for migrants and displaced persons, child protection programs, and conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives.

• Gender 

• Age  

• Left behind/vulnerable population group  

• Migration status

Individuals, including migrants and forcibly displaced people, who benefit from social, economic, and/or protection services supported by Helvetas, estimated based on a representative sample of the target population.

Survey with representative sample of the target population.

Note! If relevant, collect data for VIC 3.1, VIC 3.2, VIC 3.3, and VIC 3.4 in the same survey (if relevant).

While numbers based on the service provider can be useful for verification, they should not serve as the primary data source for this indicator. This is because service provider records may be incomplete or inaccurate. Additionally, relying solely on these records would miss important insights on user awareness, satisfaction, and potential gaps in service access among current and prospective clients/users.

• Baseline,

• Midterm (if project lasts 3 years or more),

• Endline

Conduct surveys at baseline, midline (if the project lasts three or more years), and endline. Use representative samples of the target population to gather data on the benefits received from social, economic, and/or protection services.

Challenge: No budget/capacity for doing surveys.

Approach: Result measurement should be part of every projects’ budget, so remember to include this early in the planning phase. Conducting the data collection planning and data management will make it much more cost efficient and more valuable than hiring consultants. Possible approaches to reduce the complexity and cost of data collection. Suggested to use digital platforms or mobile apps (preferably KOBO). Train local stakeholders or community volunteers to conduct surveys, ensuring cost-effective and culturally sensitive data gathering. Incorporate participatory methods, such as focus groups or community mapping, to complement quantitative surveys and enhance local ownership of the process. And leverage partnerships with other NGOs or academic institutions to co-develop survey methodologies and share resources.

Challenge: Difficulty in reaching and surveying marginalized or hard-to-reach populations, such as migrants and forcibly displaced persons, who may purposefully remain unregistered, not want to disclose, lack stable housing or access to communication channels.

Approach: Use mobile data collection teams, partnerships with local NGOs, or community leaders to reach these groups and gather accurate data.

Challenge: Difficulty in identifying individuals as migrants, in particular for internal migrants

Approach: Build trust through local leaders, consider broader migration definitions (e.g., seasonal), and offer anonymous participation options.

Challenge: Some people might not trust surveys, especially if they have low confidence in governance.

Approach: Build trust by explaining the purpose of the survey and how it will help improve their community.

SDC:

For MIG projects with access to services: MIG_ARI_5 Number of migrants and forcibly displaced persons who gained access to local social services including health, education and others

For MIG projects with access to protection:: MIG_TRI_3 Number of migrants and forcibly displaced persons experiencing violence, exploitation and abuse who access protection/rehabilitation services

• GCS 3.1.2 Number of civil society, public or private actors supported to promote good governance, responsive budgeting and/or inclusive service delivery

• GCS 3.1.3 Number of initiatives established or supported which enhance multi-level governance, inclusive policy, public finance, and/or services for more social equity

• MIG 3.3.1 Number of individuals affected by migration or forced displacement capacitated to know their rights, and/or how to access social, economic and/or protection services in their home/host communities

• MIG 3.3.2 Number of civil society, public or private actors supported to enhance the effectiveness of their services to migrants, including forcibly displaced people and/or their home/host communities

• MIG 3.3.3 Number of initiatives established or supported which enhance inclusive policy and/or services for migrants, including forcibly displaced people, and/or their home/host communities for more social inclusion